Fox News anchor John Roberts shocked X’s AI bot, Grok, with an important fact check on Monday morning—he isn’t actually dead.
Roberts was forced to provide a public proof-of-life update on Elon Musk’s social media platform when X’s AI bot mistakenly responded to a Feb. 7 tweet of the anchor playing the guitar to declare that Roberts had died.
Grok’s revelation appeared in the form of a “conversation,” note that read:
“John Roberts, the musician mentioned, recently passed away on February 3, 2025, which might add a layer of poignancy to this post showcasing his guitar playing.”
The AI bot added that the video “might be of interest to fans of his music or those following his career, especially considering his collaborations with Tony Barrand and his involvement with groups like Ye Mariners All and the Broken String Band.”
Roberts responded Monday and wrote: “Oh my… either Grok’s algorithm needs a little tweak… or I’m in trouble,” echoing Mark Twain’s famous telegram after his obituary was mistakenly printed in the newspaper, in which Twain wrote, “The report of my death was an exaggeration,” Mediaite reported.
The possible reason Grok was so confused is that there is indeed a guitar-playing man by the name of John Roberts who has died—an English musician who passed away in Schenectady, New York, on Feb. 3.
A Wikipedia entry for Roberts the musician happens to mention Barrand as his long time collaborator, which adds context to Grok’s reference.
